Outside prosecutor charged him with misdemeanor battery and official misconduct.
Some activists demanded felony aggravated assault.
Evidence did not support statutory elements.
Some police organizations claimed no crime.
Video disagreed.
Miller pleaded not guilty.
Administrative investigation separately found violations:
Unreasonable detention.
Excessive force.
Failure to de-escalate.
Bias-based conduct.
Inaccurate incident report submitted after event.
That last part surprised me.
He had written report before being suspended.
The report stated:
Subject refused repeated lawful commands, falsely claimed judicial status, physically struck officer’s wrist, and attempted to evade detention. Officer utilized open-hand distraction technique.
Falsely claimed judicial status.
He wrote that even after learning I was judge.
How?
Timestamp.
Report draft created at 8:31.
After slap but before Thomas arrived? Wait slap around 8:26 and Thomas within seconds. Maybe draft later. Could be report template saved and he failed edit. Better: preliminary notes made at 8:25 before reveal, later converted to report without correction. System logs showed he finalized 10:14 after knowing. He left “falsely claimed judicial status” in it.
That mattered.
Not mistake in moment.
Decision after.
Captain Ellis had reviewed and approved report at 10:29 despite obvious contradiction.
He claimed oversight.
Administrative review expanded.
Ellis eventually resigned.
No criminal charge.
Failure of supervision.
Prior complaints surfaced.
County settled employment matters.
Courthouse security reorganized under independent administrative division rather than local police alone.
Body cameras required continuously during public interactions except defined exceptions.
Complaint database centralized.
Most important to me:
Misidentification incidents had to be formally documented even if no arrest.
Why?
Because “nothing happened” encounters could reveal patterns before someone got hurt.
Thomas loved that rule.
He called it “Josephine rule.”
I hated nickname.
County removed my name.
Good.
Miller’s criminal trial happened eleven months after incident.
I testified.
Again.
This time smaller courtroom.
No robe.
No bench.
Witness chair.
Humbling.
His defense argued lawful mistake plus defensive reaction.
Prosecutor showed radio acknowledgment.
Maya found.
Then me stopped.
No basis.
Video.
The slap.
Witnesses.
Miller testified.
He said he did not remember dispatch resolving Maya status.
He often acknowledged transmissions automatically.
Possible.
He said my statement “I’m Judge Caldwell” sounded sarcastic.
Possible.
He said I knocked his hand forcefully enough he believed attack escalating.
Video showed movement.
Jury had to decide.
That was law.
Not moral certainty.
During cross-examination prosecutor asked:
“Why did you call her ‘Black coat’?”
Miller answered:
“To identify.”
“Why not ‘ma’am’?”
“I needed attention.”
“Why say ‘you people’?”
“I meant defendants.”
“But at that point she told you she wasn't defendant.”
“I didn't believe.”
“Why?”
“She matched.”
Prosecutor placed two photos.
Mine.
Maya’s booking photo.
Side by side.
Courtroom silent.
“Officer Miller, what specifically matched?”
He stared.